The lines are drawn

Posted on Sun Sep 27th, 2020 @ 5:38am by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: SEASON 4: Episode 1: Know Thy Self!
Location: Mirror Universe
Timeline: Current
1001 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia stood on the bridge, her Captain wasn't here yet. *Probably messing around with some female crew member* Lia thought. Here in the mirror universe power struggles were nothing new, and Lia wanted that Captains seat badly.

At that moment Captain Gary Taylor stepped onto the bridge of his ship. The ISS Elysium pride of the Terran fleet. He radiated confidence and power. He was a skilled tactician and absolutely ruthless. The fact that he had kidnapped the real Phoenix Lalor and had her double transported on to the USS Elysium proved that. "Commander." He said sliding into his seat. "Report."

"Are you sure you want a report? After all that exercise, you must be tired". Lia wasn't intimidated by Taylor, she had long ago seen how to use his proclivities against him and he knew it. So like a pair of Lions on the African plain, they circled each other looking for a way to attack but finding nothing. She moved behind a console and punched up her report, "We have six crew in agony booths for infractions, and Central Command wants us to hurry our present mission along. They have found a new species, and intend to attack it".

Gary ignored the comment. Lia was where she was for two reasons. 1.) She was good at her job. 2.) She was good in bed. So he allowed her little comments, when time came to dispose of Lia, he would to it with as much sentiment as he would getting rid of a used Kleenex. "Command is always in a hurry. What is this new species they have found and decided to add to the slave ranks?"

Lia flicked the screen and raised her eyebrow, "They don't say, only its close or near to the Tholians. Really bloody useful that is, orders Captain?" That bit stuck in her throat, Taylor was a liability and needed to be got rid of. She had one or two allies, but Lia wasn't ready just yet. "So are we going to finish the job here, or are we going to this new location? You never know, you might pick something up cheap to amuse yourself with".

"We finish the job here." He said without explanation. He was the Captain, he didn't need to explain. the crew just needed to jump when he spoke and that included his current XO.

Looking at Taylor. Lia just nodded. "I'll tell Command we'll respond once your finished", she knew he couldn't have it appear he was ignoring their orders. Her comment was meant to get a response.

He disappointed her. "You do that Commander." He answered simply. His thoughts on the other reality. The one they had plucked Captain Phoenix Lalor from. If he could infiltrate the other, power would be his beyond imagination! Maybe enough to make him Emperor. First he needed to know what Captain Lalor knew and he would one way or another.

Transmitting the ships response, Lia looked at Taylor. "Message sent Captain", but the way she said it was loaded with venom. He had to do something now, or Command would think him a coward and possibly replace him. "Our prisoner also appears to be suffering badly, are you sure you know what your doing with her?" Lalor could be important, but she was no use dead.

Taylor nodded, "Explain." He said simply.

"She's displaying symptoms which indicate possible death, and even you can't gain any information from a corpse". Lia looked at Taylor, "We're already delaying our next mission because of her, Command won't like it if we don't respond to those orders very soon".

"We can't have her die. Fine stop using the booth. We'll find something else. Command won't care about us delaying our next mission if we succeed with this one." Taylor replied."

Lia hit the comms button and gave the order to remove Phoenix from the booth, then she turned to Taylor. "So just what is this fantastic plan of yours? And how is it going to help us?" She wasn't that interested but knowledge is power, and Taylor for some reason seemed more than just determined to finish this little mission. He had never said what happened to the shuttle at DS9, nor the informer he had caught. Lia suspected the later had escaped with the aforementioned shuttle, and Taylor didn't want to admit his failure.

Gary glanced at his XO. "Make sure Captain Lalor remains restrained. I don't want her escaping. I'm not done picking her brain of every useful detail I can concerning the other reality. My plan dear Lia is to learn the secrets of the USS Elysium and using them stage an infiltration and later an invasion of the other universe. Think of the riches and the power we will have."

She glanced at Taylor, "I can't see it being that easy, or we would have done it before now". Lia moved towards the door, "I'll oversee the Captain's imprisonment, as you say we don't want her escaping". Heading for the cell's, Lia thought about how she could trip Taylor up, this idea of his wasn't going to be easy.

"I didn't say it was going to be easy Commander. It is going to be profitable and it is going to bring power to those who see it through." Gary replied firmly.

Taylor looked to his personal bodyguard Lt. S'hib. "What do you think S'hib?"

"Should have ejected them all out the cargo bays..." S'hib snorted, keeping his eyes level on the viewscreen. "We only needed the command staff for codes, but then again what do I know..." He added, finally turning his head slowly round to face Taylor. "I'm not human." S'hib grunted with as fake a smile as he could be bothered to muster.

"Now S'hib. Don't be bitter. Watching them in the arena is always enjoyable. So this will be as well."

Commander Lia Holmes
First Officer
ISS Elysium

S'hib
Captains Bodyguard
ISS Elysium

Captain Gary Taylor
Commanding Officer
ISS Elysium